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Conversations with a Holocaust survivor

March 5, 2021 by theCrimson Leave a Comment

Tessa Dury | Staff Writer

Irene Zisblatt, a Holocaust survivor, recounted the story of her life at an online event on Jan. 27 for Holocaust Remembrance Day.  

“It’s important while Holocaust survivors are still here, to hear their stories and bring awareness to the atrocities that occurred in World War II,” Barbara Kramer, Miami Multicultural Center Commission liaison, said.

The event was hosted by the Miami Multicultural Center and offered by Florida Tech as part of the Cultural Competency program.

Zisblatt was 13 when she was taken to Auschwitz. She was taken by cattle car, and stuffed inside with 100 other people for three days before she arrived at the concentration camp. The entire car was given one bucket to use as a bathroom, and the only light came from a crack in the cattle car door. 

When Zisblatt arrived at Auschwitz and the passengers stepped out of the cattle car, the SS or SchutzStaffel guards, Nazi military enforcers, began to separate the men from the women, and the older children from the younger. 

“I saw many chimneys with smoke coming out them from big gray buildings close by, and I told my mother that the SS guards must need so many of us to work in the factories to keep the chimneys going like that,” Zisblatt said.

“‘Do not cry! I will find you later,’ that’s what my mother said to me,” Zisblatt said, “It was the last time I saw her, and the last thing I heard her say.”

Zisblatt was directed into a building with a long hallway and told to take off her clothes and hand over any belongings she had. There were people in line ahead of her having gold teeth pulled from their mouths. 

“I had my mother’s diamonds, which she had sewn into a pocket in my dress. I would not let them go. So, I swallowed them,” Zisblatt said.

At Auschwitz, Zisblatt was forced to endure Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments. 

“He never gave us anesthetics during the experiments, and there was joy in his eyes,” said Zisblatt. 

While enduring Mengele’s practices, Zisblatt made friends with another young girl, Sabatka, even though the two were not allowed to speak to each other.

Sabatka was taken away one day, and Zisblatt assumed her silent friend had been sent, like millions of others, to the gas chambers.

Eventually, Zisblatt was able to escape Auschwitz. A Hungarian boy helped her out of the camp to a train that carried her to another concentration camp, Neuengamme.

Sabatka was there as well. This time, the two could speak to one another.

As the war began to wind down, Zisblatt and Sabatka were sent with 5,000 other women from the camp on a ‘death march.’ 

“As we walked, the SS guards would shoot the wounded, sick and tired women,” said Zisblatt.

On a particularly dark night, Zisblatt and Sabatka split from the rest of the group and ran until they found an abandoned farm to shelter in until morning. 

The two were woken up by American troops who had stumbled upon them. Zisblatt explained who they were to a German-speaking soldier.

After hearing their trials, he was distraught. He took Irene by the shoulders and cried, “Who could do this to little children?” The American soldiers took the girls back to their camp and provided them with beds and food. 

Sabatka fell asleep that night, and did not wake the next morning. An American soldier told Zisblatt that she had died from typhus, one of the illnesses widely spread in the camps. 

Zisblatt was taken to a field hospital, and not long after received word from an uncle living in New York that she could come and live with them. It took her two years to get to America.

No one else in Zisblatt’s family survived. 

Fifty years later, Zisblatt returned to Auschwitz for the first time as part of a program with a group of college students.

She went to the place where Mengele’s building had once stood and shouted, “I have returned, I am alive and I brought young healthy children with me to show them, and you cannot touch them!” 

As Zisblatt ended her story, she triumphantly held up a necklace she was wearing that still carries her mother’s diamonds. 

According to Zisblatt, this time in history must be remembered. Her hope is that others who hear her life story will know exactly what happened, so they can recognize the signs of hatred and prevent it from happening again.

Filed Under: All-Stories, Local, News, World Tagged With: cross cultural competency, cultural competency, holocaust remembrance day, holocaust survivor, survivor, world, world war II

Brevard elects officials, new and incumbent

February 10, 2021 by Ethan Qualle 1 Comment

Ethan Qualle | Staff Writer

Dozens of new and incumbent officials have been elected to foster the next four years of Brevard County’s legislation, in the age of a global pandemic. 

Brevard County residents voted 57.48 percent in favor of electing incumbent Republican Donald Trump; the minority voted 41.08 percent in favor of Democrat Joe Biden, according to Lori Scott, the supervisor of elections in Brevard County.

Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey was re-elected for his second term on City Council. According to the city of Melbourne, Alfrey is a native of Melbourne and has served in the Sanford, Florida Police Department, Melbourne Police Department, United States Coast Guard, and currently serves in many local, non-profit charity organizations.

Alfrey is assisted by Vice Mayor Tim Thomas, who was also elected for his second term in November. 

Thomas stated in an interview that this term will be heavily focused on small business recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis, and that Melbourne residents are “encouraged to buy local.”

Thomas explained his office will also put an emphasis on creating new jobs, saying that Aerion Supersonic, a pioneer of low-emission supersonic aircraft, will be bringing “up to 660 new jobs” to the Space Coast. 

Vice Mayor Tim Thomas also serves on the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport Authority Board; Tim Thomas and Mayor Paul Alfrey worked closely with FIT Aviation back in 2017 to provide relief to the Bahamas, having been devastated by Hurricane Irma. 

The 2020 election brought another term for Republican Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Ivey is partially known for his viral videos such as the ‘Wheel of Fugitives,’ a weekly series profiling a randomly selected criminal.

Ivey and his deputies were also involved with the controversial death of Black veteran Gregory Edwards in 2018. According to Florida Today, Ivey originally opted to not release video footage of the altercation to the public. 

Vice Mayor Tim Thomas further stated that the City of Melbourne will be investing in police body cameras, in response to the death of Edwards. A profound number of police departments have adopted the use of body cameras, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Republican Kevin Markey was elected for Canaveral Port Authority. Markey has previously served as general counsel for the Titusville Cocoa Airport Authority and the assistant city attorney for Cape Canaveral. 

According to Markey’s campaign website, he will be responsible for, “the current operations and future direction of the port.” According to their website, Port Canaveral is a large hub for maritime operations, both for cargo and cruise operations.

Disney Cruise Lines, a major cruise operator at Port Canaveral states on their website that sailings are suspended “through March 2021.”  Royal Carribean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Carnival Cruise Lines also operate scheduled cruises from the port, and most sailings will resume in the second quarter of 2021. 

“I’m looking forward to working with my fellow commissioners and Port Canaveral’s leadership to ensure the Port’s economic viability and future success,” Markey stated in an email interview. 

Republicans Rita Pritchett, John Tobia, and Kristine Isnardi were all elected as the team of county commissioners for the next four years. 

Filed Under: All-Stories, Local, News, Politics, World Tagged With: brevard, county, election, officials, politics, votes

NASA Prepares to Return Humans to the Moon

January 22, 2021 by theCrimson Leave a Comment

Alexander Polimeni | Staff Writer

For the first time in 48 years, a human-capable spacecraft destined for the Moon rolled out of NASA’s Armstrong Operations & Checkout Facility, in preparation for a launch in late 2021. 

On Jan. 16, the Orion spacecraft emerged from its assembly hangar at a crawling speed, bound for the Multi-Purpose Processing Facility, the vehicle’s final stop before it is mated to its rocket. At the MMPF, the spacecraft will be fueled prior to launch. This particular propellant is used to maneuver Orion while in space, along with returning the capsule to Earth.

“I’m incredibly excited to service Orion at our rocket fuel gas station,” said Marcos Pena, a NASA manager based out of the MMPF, in a NASA press release.

Orion rolls from the Operations and Checkout Facility on Saturday. The spacecraft is protected by a tarp. Photo: Alexander Polimeni

Later that day, the core stage, the largest component of the 321-foot tall Space Launch System rocket, completed an engine firing test in the swamps of Mississippi. A whopping 1,670,000 pounds of thrust was unleashed on the test stand for approximately one minute, marking the first ignition of the most powerful rocket in the world, according to Boeing, the manufacturer of the core stage. While the test ended earlier than planned, it was designed to iron out any issues with the rocket before shipping to the Kennedy Space Center. 

“Seeing all four engines ignite for the first time during the core stage hot fire test was a big milestone for the Space Launch System team,” said John Honeycutt, the SLS program manager, in a NASA press release.

When SLS arrives in Florida, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage will be lifted atop the 212-foot tall core stage. After launching atop the core stage, the United Launch Alliance-built ICPS will separate in space, and boost the Orion spacecraft to the Moon. Already complete, ICPS underwent periodic maintenance at the Delta Operations Center, at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in December, according to ULA.

Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) sits inside the International Space Station Processing Facility, awaiting launch. The silo-like structure protects its delicate engine. Photo: Alexander Polimeni

The Exploration Ground Systems team at the Kennedy Space Center has been preparing to receive components and assemble the first SLS rocket. EGS has begun stacking the massive 12-foot wide solid rocket booster segments according to NASA, each producing 3,280,000 pounds of thrust at launch. Two of these solid rocket boosters will be strapped to the side of the core stage. 

A series of rollout tests have been completed with the rocket’s Mobile Launch Platform, a steel skyscraper used to transport the rocket to the launch pad vertically. The MLP will endure the brunt of the weight; 5.75 million pounds when SLS is fully fueled. 

“Stacking the first piece of the SLS rocket on the mobile launcher marks a major milestone for the Artemis Program,” said Andrew Shroble, a manager with NASA contractor Jacobs. “It shows the mission is truly taking shape and will soon head to the launch pad.”

Mobile Launch Platform rolls back inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, after undergoing testing at the launch pad in 2018. Photo: Alexander Polimeni

The mission is named Artemis I, after the sister of Apollo, an apt allusion to the program that landed humans on the Moon in the 1960s. This uncrewed shakedown test of the launch vehicle and spacecraft will involve the insertion of Orion in lunar orbit, and spending three weeks in space, according to a Lockheed Martin press release. The launch is currently planned for late 2021.

Shortly after, Artemis II will propel humans around the Moon, the first time since the end of the Apollo Program. The pinnacle of this program is Artemis III – landing humans back on the surface of the Moon, a feat not accomplished since 1972. 

Before Artemis can make history and return humans back on the Moon, the transport of Orion was the culmination of a decade of work to make the first test flight of SLS reality. 

“It will blaze a trail that people will follow on the next Orion flight, pushing the edges of the envelope to prepare for that mission,” said Mike Sarafin, Artemis I mission manager, in a NASA fact sheet.

Filed Under: All-Stories, Local, News, Technology, World Tagged With: Kennedy space center, NASA, orion, space, space center, space coast

The genre-less treasure of underground music: Ghostemane’s ANTI-ICON

November 15, 2020 by Sonja Michaels 1 Comment

Sonja Michaels | Editor-in-Chief

Anti-Icon cover art // Blackmage

This album starts out with a deep, sounding bass. As the bass drones on, it takes the listener’s mental landscape to the gray, clouded side of an isolated mountain. A drum begins to slowly pound, guiding the first steps down the mountain. Pausing, a moment of silence occurs. It erupts into chaos before fading out into whispers.

What a way to start an album.

Track two, “Vagabond”, takes us back in to some “usual” Ghostemane. There’s a pleasant variety of sounds going on. The listener is led to believe they’re hearing rap, but pounding drums come in at 1:20 and launch the listener back to early 2010s Warped Tour.

Three songs in, we reach “Lazaretto.” Is it metal? Is it hardcore? It’s hard to determine. 

Ghostemane, or Eric Whitney, has roots in hardcore punk and metal. A Florida native, Whitney, played guitar and drums in multiple bands early in his musical career. Leaving Southern Florida seemed to coincide with a shift to a more rap-oriented career; Whitney moved to Los Angeles in 2015, and has formed or participated in numerous projects outside of Ghostemane. 

So far the hallmark of this album is the careful manipulation of all the sounds. Yes, there are harsh sounds, but they all feel intentional. They are foiled by some soft, distorted vocals whispering to the listener at transition points. Ghostemane walks the line between grating effects and smooth soundscapes. 

“Sacrilege” deserves to be listened to with an excellent sound system. The mix of real drum sounds and hyper-computery processed synths is the best whiplash between metal and synth-pop. The word pop isn’t the first you’d expect to hear in a Ghostemane review, but the first half of the song is filled out enough with danceable synths that harken back to the ‘80s that it’s hard to ignore. 

Each song on “ANTI-ICON” has a different feel, but there are some uniform sounds and feelings. These songs are all part of the same journey through the album’s soundscape. In some places it is more organic, with acoustic and natural-sounding instruments evoking images of storms and empty nature, where in others the listener can only envision a hardcore band rocking out in a garage. 

“Fed Up” stands out, mostly because Whitney shows restraint when it comes to the rapping. The lower, gravelly mumbles blend well with a video-game like bass tone. His higher-pitched, clean vocals are well mixed, not overly contrasting with one of the calmer songs on the album. It is just powerful enough. A minimalist, metallic outro ties this song off. “Fed Up” is understated – and for that, it can’t be overrated. 

“The Winds of Change”. Right away a more organic instrument catches the listener’s attention. The sounds and tones evoke images of ‘90s alternative and emo bands like Sunny Day Real Estate or Twelve Hour Turn. This is the kind of song that makes you want to lay on the floor, stare at the ceiling and drift away into your thoughts for a while. A developed musician knows where an instrumental break belongs – Ghoste nailed it with this one. 

Slower parts or songs like “Melancholic” demonstrate Ghoste’s versatility. Sure, you can defy a genre – but he takes it to the next level by showing diversity even in his own fantastically strange sound. 

This album is diverse, but a common vibe exists. While paces and instruments vary, familiar bass tones and synth instruments appear throughout. Many of the lyrics are classic Ghostemane, addressing the dark themes he is known for.

Whitney takes the influences of rap, hardcore, punk, and more, pulling them all together to create an album that defies any one genre. Past Ghostemane albums have been unique, creative, and well-done; “ANTI-ICON” enters a new realm, acting as the carefully crafted, complete and refined work of a skilled artist.

Filed Under: All-Stories, Arts, Entertainment, Music, World Tagged With: 2020 music, album review, anti-icon, eric whitney, ghostemane, metal, music, rap, rock

Biden Elected 46th President

November 7, 2020 by Sonja Michaels Leave a Comment

Sonja Michaels | Editor-in-Chief

Joe Biden has reached 270 Electoral College votes, making him the president-elect of the United States.

The news comes over three days after Election Day, as Americans awaited results in the election that saw historically high voter turnout in some states.

Sen. Kamala Harris makes history as the first Black woman elected vice president. She is the first person of South Asian descent to be elected vice president.

America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.

The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.

I will keep the faith that you have placed in me. pic.twitter.com/moA9qhmjn8

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020

Biden received over 70 million votes as of Nov. 7, more than any other U.S. presidential candidate ever.

The president-elect is set to speak in Wilmington, Delaware at 8 p.m. EST.

This is a developing story. Updates may be made as information becomes available.

Filed Under: All-Stories, News, Politics, World Tagged With: biden, campaign, election, harris, politics, presidential candidate, presidential race, world news

Top secret rocket mission set for Cape Canaveral launch

November 3, 2020 by theCrimson Leave a Comment

Alex Polimeni | Staff Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL – United Launch Alliance will launch the ever-dependable Atlas V rocket, a workhorse of the U.S. intelligence and defense community, just after sunset on Nov. 4.

The 5:54 p.m. launch will be lifting a clandestine mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Designated NROL-101, no details regarding the payload’s purpose or specifications are available to the public. 

The rocket was originally prepared for an Election Day launch. This was delayed due to a faulty environmental control system duct, according to CEO Tory Bruno on Twitter. ECS ducts provide conditioned air to the launch vehicle and spacecraft while awaiting launch.

A similar Atlas V launch in July 2020. The photo shows an Atlas V rocket taking off.
A similar Atlas V launch in July 2020. Photo | Alex Polimeni

According to an NRO press kit, the agency serves as the “eyes and ears,” over the most hostile territories in the world. The existence of the agency, founded in 1961, was only publicly acknowledged in 1992. Current capabilities and operations of this covert agency remain classified. 

“ULA is proud to play a pivotal role in support of our mission partners and national security by keeping our country safe one launch at a time,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of government and commercial programs, in a ULA press release. “We thank our mission partners for their continued trust and teamwork. The NROL-101 mission will be ULA’s 29th mission launched for the National Reconnaissance Office and the 17th NRO mission launched on an Atlas V.”

This Atlas V launch is monumental in ULA’s mission to reduce the costs of launch and begin evolution to their new rocket, Vulcan-Centaur. This mission will be the first to utilize the Utah-built Northrop Grumman GEM-63 solid rocket motors, according to a ULA news release.

ULA uses strap-on solid rocket boosters to increase the Atlas V’s lifting capability. According to ULA CEO Tory Bruno on Twitter, the new boosters are “higher performance,” and “approaching half the cost.” In addition, the new solid rocket boosters are nearly identical to those that will be used on the Vulcan-Centaur rocket, ensuring a crucial system is tested before the first launch in 2021. 

The NROL-101 mission will mark the 86th launch of the Atlas V, along with the 141st launch for ULA, all with 100 percent mission success.

Launch is currently set for 5:54 p.m. EST. The Atlas V will be readily visible along most of Florida’s eastern coast, and will have a contrail from three solid rocket boosters. For Florida Tech students interested in watching the event, Holland Spessard Beach affords a decent view of the launch nearby. At any launch viewing sites, be sure to follow CDC guidelines, and social distance when possible.

Filed Under: All-Stories, Local, News, Technology, World Tagged With: Atlas V, Cape Canaveral, election day, launch, rocket launch, space, united launch alliance

OPINION: A College Student’s Guide to the Election

November 2, 2020 by theCrimson 3 Comments

The following is an opinion-editorial piece. Views expressed in this piece belong solely to the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Crimson or any other organization.

Brianna Forté | Copy Editor

Hopefully by the time you are reading this, you’ve seen countless posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat reminding you of the importance to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

I’m sure you are tired of hearing the phrase, “your vote matters.” With the current political and environmental state of our country, and world, it is tempting to feel discouraged and insignificant. On top of that, as college students struggling to find our path while adjusting to COVID-19 protocols, it’s hard to emotionally invest and donate time towards educating ourselves on the candidates for this upcoming election.

As a bisexual female in STEM majoring in marine biology and minoring in Communications, my values are centered around environmental conservation and social equality. I’m here to share my choices on the general election ballot for Florida District 309 in the upcoming election, based off these values. 

I am by no means an expert, and of course these are solely my opinions being represented, not Florida Tech’s or The Crimson’s. But, I hope that if I share these choices as a cheat sheet, it will serve as a guide for the undecided or unmotivated college students to help them vote. Because truly, your vote matters.

President and Vice President

First things first, the presidential candidates. If you are voting for Donald Trump, you do not have your best interests in mind. Trump’s platform for the environment is basically nonexistent. According to The New York Times, President Trump has officially reversed 70 environmental rules and regulations during the four years he’s been in office and is in the process of 26 additional rollbacks. Trump has also formally started to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, “in which 195 signatories set voluntary limits on greenhouse gas emissions,” explained National Geographic. Regardless of the economic policies that provide an appeal for some Trump supporters, there is no wealth to gain from the deterioration of the state of our environment. Climate change is real, as the evidence from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration proves. It’s a dire issue, and the fact that Trump refuses to provide a platform to effectively regulate environmental threats will affect the quality of life for our entire generation.

In addition to Trump’s bismal platform for the environment, Trump represents the regression back to inequality within America. The main values that Trump embodies include racism, sexism, and homophobia. At the first presidential debate Trump was asked to simply condemn white supremacists, and his response was to tell a far-right, neo-facist, male-only group known as the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.” Since the beginning of Trump’s term, his administration has worked to undermine the civil and human rights our nation had set in place. These actions from 2017 until now are outlined by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and require a considerable amount of scrolling to read through. If you identify as a minority, or simply have a human connection for the people that we share this country with, then you should feel obligated to protect people’s rights by not voting for Trump. 

While Joe Biden is not the optimal democratic candidate, the Biden/Harris ticket is still the best option between the two choices. And I only acknowledge the two main candidates because although our two party system is flawed, a vote for any third party candidate is essentially throwing your vote away. Biden has a completely comprehensive environmental platform and acknowledges and has a platform for racial inequality and civil rights.

According to National Geographic, Biden’s platform includes protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling, promising to stop keystone pipelines, favoring the end of fossil fuel subsidies, planning to rejoin the Paris Agreement, and outlining strategies to achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Having a comprehensive plan is vital to ensuring a safe future, where every living organism on this planet is better off. Science is absolutely critical for the progress of our planet, and Biden is the first president to ever be backed by the Scientific American in response to his opposing candidate’s complete disregard for science in relation to COVID-19, health care, and climate change. In the statement released by the Scientific American it is stated that, “Joe Biden, in contrast, comes prepared with plans to control COVID-19, improve health care, reduce carbon emissions and restore the role of legitimate science in policy making.”

In addition to Biden’s platform for environmental conservation, Biden acknowledges the systemic racism within our country and has proved his commitment to reforming the criminal justice system. According to the Los Angeles Times, Biden plans to invest in programs that increase home ownership among families of color, eliminate racially discriminatory zoning ordinances, and although he doesn’t support defunding the police he has called for greater accountability among police officers who use deadly force along with better training. In addition to the platform Biden has created to address racism within this country, he is also endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign. President of the Human Rights Campaign, Alphonso David, said that Biden’s, “dedication to advancing LGBTQ equality, even when it was unpopular to do so, has pushed our country and our movement forward.” 

As a person whose rights in regards to birth control and sexual orientation are endangered by the possibility of another four years of the Trump administration, I urge my classmates to consider the rights that are at stake in the presidential election. In addition to civil rights, which are critical, this election will determine how our country will move forward during this climate emergency.

Representative in Congress District 8

In addition to the presidential election, the other federal election on the Florida District 309 ballot is for the U.S. House of Representatives. According to the Ballot Ready, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are responsible for beginning the legislation process, offering amendments, and serving on committees.

For Florida’s 8th Congressional District the two candidates are Bill Posey and Jim Kennedy. Bill Posey is the incumbent, and is endorsed by the Florida Right to Life, the National Rifle Association, and Donald Trump. Posey’s platform according to his website, states that he’s against the Green New Deal, doesn’t have any platform centered around environmental conservation, and is mainly focused on increasing national security. Posey has voted yes to banning federal health coverage that includes abortion according to On The Issues.

Meanwhile, Jim Kennedy has demonstrated belief in environmental reform including supporting companies that make an effort to be environmentally conscious and supporting research into technologies that can make a difference. Kennedy also has a comprehensive platform for educational reform, reproductive rights, gun regulation (without revoking the right to possess firearms), and criminal justice reform.  

Posey has served as a representative in congress since 2013, and it is time for Florida’s 8th Congressional District to have a representative that values the younger generation and the earth they’re inheriting while also prioritizing civil rights. 

State Senator District 17

As important as it is to be informed about the presidential and congressional candidates, this upcoming election does not just revolve around your vote for federal candidates. In fact, your vote will have the most direct impact on the local level. This includes the state and local candidates. 

First up on the ballot are the candidates for the Florida Senator for District 17. According to the website Ballot Ready, the members of the Florida State Senate are responsible for passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

For Florida’s State Senate for District 17, the two candidates are Debbie Mayfield and Scot Fretwell. Mayfield’s website does not display her platform, but she is endorsed by the Florida Right to Life. According to Ballotpedia, she has sponsored a bill that would prohibit physicians from performing an abortion for a minor unless specific requirements are satisfied. 

Unlike Mayfield’s platform, Fretwell has a clear outline of his policies on his website. Fretwell’s platform includes multiple approaches to protecting the environment, including proposing legislation that requires all of Florida’s energy suppliers to convert to 100 percent renewable power sources by the year 2040, establishing a bottle return system in Florida, and committing Florida to the Paris Climate Accord. Fretwell also acknowledges systemic racism within the United States and has a strong platform for Justice and Police Reform. According to Fretwell’s website he wants to legislate the police reforms proposed by #8cantwait, legalize recreational marijuana and “expunge the records of anyone who was arrested for non-violent drug charges involving the possession of marijuana,”, and require that all law enforcement officers be trained in racial sensitivity and de-escalation techniques. Fretwell has a clear strategy for improving Florida’s environment, economy, and criminal justice.

State Representative District 53

Next up on the ballot for state elections are the candidates for the Florida House of Representatives for District 53. According to the website Ballot Ready, the members of the Florida House of Representatives are responsible for passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes. The two candidates are Randy Fine and Phil Moore.

Fine was elected as the Florida State House of Representatives in 2016, but does not have a platform or website to refer to. His list of sponsored bills can be viewed here. Although he is endorsed by the Florida Right to Life and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. 

Moore’s platform and beliefs are easily through his website, where he outlines his priorities on economy, education, environment, equality, immigration, healthcare, gun responsibility, and small government. He’s endorsed by Florida Planned Parenthood, the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, Sierra Club Florida Chapter, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Moore is a huge proponent of civil rights, supports climate change research and conversion to renewable energy, and believes in background checks in order to purchase guns. 

Moore has a vision that will improve Florida’s quality of life for our generation, and again is the obvious choice when taking into account civil rights and environmental conservation. Which again, I cannot stress the importance of enough. 

Sheriff

The position for Brevard County Sheriff is an opportunity for young constituents to voice their support for criminal justice reform and Black Lives Matter, as these two candidates represent completely opposing values. According to the website Ballot Ready, the Brevard County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement official of the county. The two candidates are incumbent Wayne Ivey and challenger Alton Edmond.

In an article published by The Marshall Project, a nonprofit journalism organization about criminal justice, it is explained how this race between Ivey and Edmond embody the country’s conflict between Trump and Black Lives Matter. Ivey ran unopposed in 2016 and as Brevard County Sheriff publishes dehumanizing videos like the “Wheel of Fugitive” and “Fishing for Fugitives”, while also refusing to release security footage of the wrongful death of Black military veteran Gregory Edwards in 2018 according to Florida Today. Edmond is a Black former public defender who’s running on a platform for criminal justice reform. According to the article by The Marshall Project, Edmond promises to “buy body cameras for deputies, increase diversity among top staff, ban the neck restraint tactic used by the police who killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, and stop making viral videos about suspects.”

Ivey has appeared alongside President Trump at campaign rallies, and clearly embodies the racism rampant in today’s America. As a college student striving for equality for my Black classmates and friends, I am voting for Edmond. 

Board of County Commissioners District 3

Among local elections, the Board of County Commissioners for District 3 is responsible for enacting local ordinances. The two candidates are incumbent John Tobia and challenger Sanjay Patel.

Tobia is Brevard County’s current commissioner for District 3, but does not have an available website detailing his platform or what he has accomplished during his time as County Commissioner, but does have a Facebook page. Patel’s website details his plan for local environmental policies including “migrating country infrastructure to greener and more sustainable alternatives” and also “foster sustainable growth by making decisions based on science that protect our lagoon and environmentally endangered lands.” Patel also prioritizes COVID-19 recovery efforts, supporting local businesses, and expanding affordable housing and public transportation.

As someone who was introduced to the Brevard County community four years ago, I have connected with this beautiful place. I believe that Brevard’s nature deserves to be protected along with the people who compose this diverse community, which is why I am voting for Patel.

Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1

Next for local elections is the race for Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1. This position is part of a board that according to Ballot Ready, is responsible for overseeing soil and watersheds within the district. The two candidates are Henry “Boo” Minneboo and Adam Tritt.

In both a Florida Today article and a Hometown News article, incumbent Minneboo was not reached at the time to make a comment. Tritt however provided statements to both news outlets. In the Hometown News article he promised to make decisions on the basis of science and data instead of economic efficiency, and stated that “if we are to move into a future that is sustainable economically and ecologically, we need to do what needs to be done to protect our tourism and agricultural industries, both, while maintaining the beauty and uniqueness of Brevard County’s lands and waters.”

As a firm believer in science and the preservation of the environment, I support Tritt for Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1.

West Melbourne City Council

Finally, the election for West Melbourne City Council has four candidates vying for three positions. According to Ballot Ready, this council serves as the municipality’s governing body and votes on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager. The four candidates for this position are incumbent Pat Bentley, Mathew Grigajitis, Daniel McDow, and Stephan Phrampus.

Hometown News published an article profiling the four candidates. Daniel McDow is endorsed by the Sierra Club Florida Chapter, and vows to “initiate an eco-friendly roadmap.” Besides voting for McDow, I don’t believe any of the other three candidates have a strong platform that motivated me to vote for them.

To Recap

If you have stuck with me this long, thank you for taking the time to get educated on your candidates. To recap, I’m voting for Biden/Harris for the president and vice president, Jim Kennedy for Representative in Congress District 8, Scot Fretwell for State Senator District 17, Phil Moore for State Representative District 53, Alton Edmond for Sheriff, Sanjay Patel for Board of County Commissioners District 3, Adam Tritt for Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1, and Daniel McDow for West Melbourne City Council. 

If you have a different ballot, you can compare all of your candidates by typing in your address in the website BallotReady.org. Please vote, and please remain educated upon what is occurring in politics. Our country is changing and it needs the younger generation to maintain momentum in movements such as climate change, racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, gun protection, and reproductive rights.

Filed Under: Opinion, Politics, World Tagged With: 2020 election, ballot, ballot choices, editorial, election, election day, opinion

Park closures, job cuts and masks: Tourism industry changes in the face of COVID-19

October 13, 2020 by Ethan Qualle Leave a Comment

Ethan Qualle | Staff Writer

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to hospitality and tourism attractions around the country. The state of Florida is home to world-renowned theme parks, hundreds of miles of public beaches, the Kennedy Space Center, and the Brevard Zoo, all of which have had to adapt due to COVID-19.

The Walt Disney Company has cut 28,000 jobs, or a quarter of their domestic work force, as a result of the pandemic. The announcement came from chairman of Disney’s parks department, Josh D’Amaro. Many of these “cast members,” as Disney refers to employees, were employed part-time. 

Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando closed its theme parks on March 16, following suit of other Disney parks around the world, such as Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland in California. Disney World in Florida reopened its gates in a phased reopening to annual passholders and guests with pre-existing reservations in late July. 

Disneyland, including resorts and parks, in California remains closed. The state’s tourism industry is set to lose $72 billion by the end of the year. Aerospace engineering junior and California native Nico Colomer, observed that tourism was  “significantly reduced this summer” in southern California. Colomer, who works as a lifeguard in Huntington Beach, Calif. on summer breaks, said that the beaches were closed for the majority of the summer season, including for major holidays such as the Fourth of July. 

Universal Studios shut down on March 16 of this year and reopened on June 5, with new safety guidelines. Universal Studios’ website displays a banner stating: “Exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit.”

Brevard County Parks and Recreation has also seen changes in the face of COVID-19. According to Shay Saldana of the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department, facilities were closed briefly at the start of the pandemic, but opened shortly after, with mask requirements and social distancing measures in place. 

The Brevard Zoo closed its doors to the public on March 16, before opening with new operating guidelines in May. Andrea Hill, a representative of the Brevard Zoo, stated that the zoo provides timed entry tickets, which limits the number of people that can enter the zoo at any given time. She also stated that they require facial coverings, and have social distancing markers on the ground.

The Kennedy Space Center, which opened in May, has implemented similar guidelines. Visitors are limited, and center hours have been reduced to increase time for cleaning.

Filed Under: Local, News, Travel, World Tagged With: brevard zoo, COVID-19, disney, tourism, universal

2020 Election: Voting as a college student

September 14, 2020 by Ethan Qualle 5 Comments

Election Day is right around the corner. 

This November, the U.S. presidential election will take place, along with numerous state and local elections. 

According to The Campus Vote Project, college students make up about 21 percent of eligible voters in this election. 

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in ballots have become an increasingly popular option for voters, according to the United States Postal Service.

Thomas Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service explained in a July letter that mail-in ballots returned within Florida’s deadlines may not arrive in time to be counted, with election officials in numerous states receiving similar letters. The letter advises voters to return mail-in ballots by Oct. 27, one week before Election Day. 

Florida residents can register to vote at www.registertovoteflorida.gov. Out-of-state students have the option of utilizing absentee ballots. Sophomore Daniel Gierlach, an aerospace engineering major, said he will be voting in Michigan using an absentee ballot. 

Brevard residents also have the option of in-person voting or early voting at a local polling precinct. www.votebrevard.gov provides a tool to locate your precinct. Palm Bay resident Jesus Aviles, a junior studying IT management, said he will be voting at his local precinct. 

Texas native Thomas McHenry, a junior studying aeronautical science with flight, also anticipates voting at his local Brevard County precinct.

“With my Florida driver’s license, I can avoid the hassle that comes with Texas absentee voting,” McHenry said. 

According to vote.org, Texas residents must provide an excuse to request an absentee ballot. Only those who are 65 and older, disabled, confined in jail, or out of state on election day are eligible to apply.

One resource for obtaining an absentee ballot is vote.org. This website enables voters to  request an absentee ballot, register to vote, or check their registration status. College students can request an absentee ballot in all 50 states.

Voting resources mentioned in this article:

Florida voting registration: registertovoteflorida.gov

Precinct locator: www.votebrevard.gov

Obtaining absentee ballot: vote.org

Filed Under: Local, Politics, World Tagged With: college voters, election, election day, mail-in ballot, students, vote, voting

Social distancing measures on Florida Tech’s campus

September 9, 2020 by theCrimson 1 Comment

By Arianna Schuck

Precautionary measures regarding COVID-19 are visible around Florida Tech’s campus, as students attend classes in person or remotely. 

Florida Tech President T. Dwayne McCay announced Friday in the weekly COVID-19 update that there were two new student cases, with no new cases among faculty and staff.

As of Saturday, the Florida Department of Health listed over 640,000 total cases in the state, with 3,773 new cases reported among Florida residents from the previous day. The website features a banner advising social distancing, face coverings, and for individuals concerned about their status, getting tested.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, buildings like Crawford and Skurla were crowded during transition times. Now, instructions are on display directing students to move through the buildings while social distancing. 

Staircases are labeled with decals, instructing students on which side of the staircase can be used to go up or down. Doors are indicated strictly for exiting or entering with signs.

Decals on the main staircase in the Crawford building. Photo |Arianna Schuck

Rosalia Gray, a sophomore majoring in forensic psychology, said it was nerve-wracking at first to hear that Florida Tech would be opening for the fall semester. 

“I believe that the school is handling the situation very well, the university is doing everything in their ability to keep the campus community safe,” Gray said.

Ryan Hayden, a sophomore majoring in business administration with entrepreneurship, said he thinks Florida Tech is doing a good job of keeping on-campus students safe, but that more precautions could be taken such as temperature checks before each class or required testing for the virus.

Doors in Crawford are now marked specifically for entering or exiting. Photo | Arianna Schuck

“I did not have any worries about crowding in lecture halls because all of my classes in previous years were small,” Hayden said.

Students and employees are required to wear face coverings on campus, according to the Florida Tech Safe website. Exceptions apply for individual students in enclosed study rooms or in their residence hall rooms. The question and answer page states that individuals who do not follow the policy will be asked to do so or leave the area, with potential disciplinary action in the case of “repeated refusal” to comply.

Filed Under: Health, Local, World Tagged With: campus changes, campus news, coronavirus, COVID-19, face coverings, health, policies, public health, social distancing

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